National Signing Day

February 7th was National Signing Day for high school student athletes all over the nation who are committing to play sports at the college level to announce where they will be continuing their sports career.

Here in Missoula our local sports heroes made the commitments and signed their letter of intent to the schools they plan to attend in the fall. At Missoula Hellgate there would be a total of nine players who put ink to their commitment to play sports ranging from football to gymnastics at the college level. Hellgate student athletes will move on to play at variety levels including two that will stay in the state of Montana to become rivals, cross country standout Will Dauenhauer will become a Grizzly, and cross country all star Isaac Schmidt will run for Montana State.

At Loyola Sacred-Heart two Rams penned their commitment to play football at the next level. David Koppang signed with the University of Montana to play at the safety position, and Braeden Beck will stay in Montana and become a Montana Tech Ore Digger. Fellow Ram football player Joey McElroy signed with Montana State in December on the early signing day.

Before the two Loyola Rams signed their letter of intent Coach Hughes talked about the long tradition of student athletes who have moved on to the college level to play sports, the tradition the two boys were continuing. After the event was over Beck talked about what the legacy means to him, "It's incredible. Even with my teammates, Joey and David, I know they are going to do great things because we have been teammates and we will continue the tradition from Loyola to the college level."

Commitments By School

Tyler Flink                          Montana Tech                                   Football
Levi Janacaro                    University of Montana                       Football
Alex Mintyala                     Dickinson State                                 Volleyball

Ellee Becker                      University of Portland                        Cross Country/Track & Field
Will Dauenhauer                University of Montana                       Cross Country/Track & Field
Abigail Donald                   University of Tennessee - Martin      Shooting/Rifle
Jessilyn Ecklund                Vassar College                                  Swimming
Nicole Johnsen                  Hamlin University                              Gymnastics
Justin Lane                        Colorado Mesa University                  Lacrosse
Darrah Mahns                    University of Denver                          Swimming
Hunter Martell                    Spokane Falls Community College    Soccer
Isaac Schmidt                    Montana State University                   Cross Country/Track & Field

Braeden Beck                     Montana Tech                                     Football
David Koppang                   University of Montana                         Football
Joe McElroy                        Montana State University                   Football

Sam Beighle                       Carroll College                                   Basketball
Kylie Frohlich                      University of Montana                        Basketball
Nick Germer                       University of Montana                         Football
Elsa Godwin                        University of Montana                        Volleyball
Brian Jakubowski                Minot State                                         Football
Drew Leonard                     University of Sioux Falls                     Baseball
Sarina Morena                    University of Montana                         Volleyball
Brandon Morley                  Montana Tech                                      Football
Cassie North                       Dickinson State                                   Volleyball
Jordyn Schweyen               University of Montana                          Basketball